REUTERS | Ajay Verma
September 30, 2022

My journey to my first non-executive director position

Earlier this year, Practical Law published my article, Non-executive directors: my journey to my first NED position. It includes some background on my career and provides tips on what I  learned when I was working towards my first NED role. For example:

  • Join a NED support organisation to help you on the journey.
  • Prepare your NED CV.
  • It takes time to apply.
  • NED roles vary by complexity and remuneration but are all competitive.
  • Persevere through the rejections.
  • Look for roles where your skills match.
  • Follow your passions.
  • Prepare for the interview.
  • Do your organisation and sector due diligence.
REUTERS | Dominic Ebenbichler
September 26, 2022

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in October 2022?

This month, in-house lawyers will be assessing the impact of the announcements made in the government’s “Growth Plan 2022”. They should also take note of the publication of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, and two reports by the FRC Lab.

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REUTERS | Aly Song
September 23, 2022

The Hearing podcast: ep.101, Mindful lawyering: reducing stress, avoiding burnout & re-humanising the profession

Episode 101 of the Hearing is now available.

This episode examines the high prevalence of stress and burnout among lawyers, and what can be done to reduce it. Yasmin talks to Legatics CEO Anthony Seale and Lucy Shurwood from Pinsent Masons, one of the founding members of the Mindful Business Charter.

The trio discuss what burnout is, some common causes and what we can learn from the pandemic. Now that wellbeing conversations have come to the fore, firms are having to take an honest look at their corporate culture. But as well as focusing internally, it’s clear there are some brave conversations to be had about being equally as mindful to those we work with externally.

 

REUTERS | Tulips are pictured in a public park in Vienna, Austria, April 21, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
September 21, 2022

Ensuring diverse representation to sustain legal innovation and change an industry

In the highly regulated and competitive biopharmaceutical industry, legal innovation is a critical driver of business success, guiding research and development (R&D), and matters of intellectual property (IP). Innovation in IP law is especially vital for a company like AbbVie, which has been at the forefront of R&D since its inception in 2013, investing almost $50 billion to advance and deliver new medicines.

To best serve our patients, researchers and partners, we have assembled a team of outside counsel from the top global law firms to help us navigate the legal complexities of developing solutions for the world’s toughest health challenges.

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REUTERS | Bees are seen on the frame of a hive in a village of Ripanj near Belgrade, Serbia, April 9, 2019. Picture taken April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Marko Djurica - RC1799744470
September 14, 2022

Are you sacrificing effectiveness for the sake of efficiency?

Today’s legal departments are tasked with accomplishing and contributing more than ever before. Not only do they need to provide legal advice and oversee compliance, they must also anticipate threats, collaborate across teams, contribute towards shaping the strategic direction of their organisations, and more.

Still, most legal departments are measured against just a fraction of what their job really entails. Because, while most legal teams are using metrics-driven approaches to manage their departments, most are only reporting on external spend, turnaround and response times, and quality of work. In fact, this year 90% of departments reported that they used some form of metrics in 2021, compared to just 75% in 2015 (Thomson Reuters Institute 2022 State of Corporate Law Departments Report).

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REUTERS | Michaela Rehle
September 12, 2022

FTSE Women Leaders Review extends its scope to include UK top 50 private companies

The FTSE Women Leaders Review (the Review) is an independent, business-led framework supported by the government, which sets recommendations for Britain’s largest companies to improve the representation of women on boards and in leadership positions. It is the successor phase to the Hampton-Alexander and Davies Reviews, and captures data on over 24,000 roles across FTSE 350 boards, extending down into the two leadership layers below the board. This makes the UK’s approach and drive for more women in business leadership arguably the biggest and most ambitious of any country to date.

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REUTERS | People run past Tower Bridge in the early morning autumnal sunshine, in London, Britain, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson - RC129ACEEA00
September 9, 2022

Sole lawyers online roundtable: How to avoid being overwhelmed and burning out

The Centre for Legal Leadership is hosting an online roundtable event for sole lawyers on 5 October 2022 from 08:30-10:00. The topic for discussion is how to avoid being overwhelmed and burning out.

This event is aimed at sole lawyers who would welcome the chance to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of their roles, to share their experience and learn from others. It provides an opportunity to talk with your peers about how you and others have coped with the challenges of the role and the tips and tricks people use to make the role exciting and rewarding, while minimising the threat of being overwhelmed and burning out.

Places are limited and offered on a first come first served basis and participation is mandatory. Please register on the The Centre for Legal Leadership website.

REUTERS | A man carrying an umbrella walks across the Old Town Square during a rainstorm in Prague, May 30, 2013. REUTERS/David W Cerny
September 8, 2022

The importance of empathy for lawyers

I remember when I first went into law being asked “which area do you want to specialise in?” My response was swift given it was a second career after teaching in inner-city London. I would always reply, “I don’t want to do law with a human face.” I knew what I meant by that, no family law or criminal law for me, I wanted to immerse myself in documents and facts. So, I became a corporate lawyer, but it wasn’t really for me, I missed the human side after all.

I learnt a lot about myself: that I can knuckle down and pay great attention to detail, and that I can absorb facts and make a cogent argument. However, in doing so, I was suppressing part of myself and that part (although I did not know it at the time) was my desire to understand the human being behind the legal problem. I was interested in the emotion that surrounds the client when faced with a situation that could mean their livelihood, contact with their children, reputation, business or home could be on the line.

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REUTERS | Luke MacGregor
September 5, 2022

Data privacy and cybersecurity: Autumn agenda 2022

The summer is traditionally a slow time for new developments but 2022 has not played ball. In particular, the government’s proposed reforms of the UK data protection regime have moved a step closer to reality with the introduction of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to parliament. Continue reading →

REUTERS | A bee searches for pollen among cherry blossoms on a sunny spring day in Lausanne, Switzerland March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
September 1, 2022

The Hearing podcast: ep.100, Becky Annison

Episode 100 of the Hearing is now available.

WE’RE 100 EPISODES OLD! To celebrate, we decided to turn the spotlight (mic) on our beloved host, Becky. She had mixed feelings about it, but you’re going to love getting to know her better.

Yasmin and Becky talk about where her passion for the law came from, her interesting career journey, and the work she does now to combat climate change. She’s a hero and we’re glad to dig deeper into what makes her tick.